Is there a lens size limit for audience members at the NBA?

[v35skyline]

I just got my 70-200 2.8 IS today ( :) ) and have tickets to see the Lakers next Friday. I've heard that some professional sporting events will not allow lenses larger than _ inches.

1) Is this true?
2) If so, what is the limit?

Thanks for any help! :D

[Darsk47]

under cameras/photography.........

http://www.staplescenter.com/doublecol.php?section=guestservices&page=faqs

[bkburns]

Here in Memphis the NBA Grizzlies will not allow a lens longer than 3". And they searched my bag. If I tried to carry in my 70-200 I would be hogtied at the door and fed to the mascot.

Even if you snuck it in somehow, if they saw it in the audience they would escort you out in a heartbeat.

[CanonPhotographer]

i bring my 28-200mm for the xti to philadelphia flyers games and they dont give me a hard time. maybe its different for hockey, or maybe its cause im a kid:cool:

[Toddgo]

Just FYI in St. Louis the rules are as follows (If anyone is interested) So it can vary greatly by facility and event in that facility.

Scott Trade Center - Blues Hockey
Camera policies vary by event, are determined solely at the discretion of the show and are subject to change. Scottrade Center defines professional lens cameras as a camera with a lens greater than 200 mm. A camera with a lens greater than 200 mm will never be permitted at Scottrade Center. Cameras with a detachable lens are prohibited. For most concerts, still, digital and video cameras are not permitted. For Blues games, most other sporting events and family shows, still cameras are permitted but video cameras are prohibited. Unauthorized or prohibited photography of an event may result in film or videotape being confiscated by show representatives. In all cases, the resale of photography or video is strictly prohibited. For details regarding the camera policy for a specific event, please call 314-622-5400.

Edward Jone Dome - Rams Football
Still camera photography is permitted with lenses of reasonable length that do not obstruct the view of other fans. Digital cameras are permitted as long as they do not record video. The use of tripods is not permitted. Video recording of any game action is strictly prohibited by the National Football League. Fans observed filming the game will have their video camera confiscated.

Busch Stadium - Cardinals Baseball
Both still and video cameras are allowed in Busch Stadium, as long as they do not obstruct another guest's view. Credentialed professional news crews/cameras are only allowed on the concourses and are not to film any game action unless given permission by the Cardinals.

[dmwierz]

Let me drag out the standard answer to questions like this:

"It doesn't matter what anybody on this board or any other Web site tells you they "got in" at another arena, or even what they "snuck in" at your venue. The ONLY people's opinion that matters is the arena, the host team, and most importantly, the security guards at the gate where you choose to enter"

From the link Darsk provided:

Cameras/Photography
No commercial or flash photography of any kind is permitted. Camcorders or any other audio/visual equipment is prohibited unless authorized by team/promoter or performer. Specifically, the use of the following equipment is not permitted:


Lenses greater than three-and-one-half inches in length
Telephoto or zoom lenses of any kind
Interchangeable lenses of any kind
Monopods or tripods
Flash equipment of any kind


Looks pretty clear to me. The only camera officially allowed in is one with a fixed lens that is less than 3.5 inches in length - AKA a point and shoot camera.

[JeffreyG]

Lenses greater than three-and-one-half inches in length
That pretty much means no shots of the atheletes with a dSLR. To bad for you

Telephoto or zoom lenses of any kind
Interesting....this pretty much bans every digital P&S on the market. They all have zoom lenses. This is a strange rule.

Interchangeable lenses of any kind
So you can't shoot even wide angle now with the dLSR. Leave it home and enjoy the game seems to be the message.

Monopods or tripods
Makes sense

Flash equipment of any kind
Another ban of the P&S cameras. They all include flash. In fact....this rule bans nearly every camera there is. The only cameras that lack a built in flash are dSLRs and rangefinders...and those are all fouled by the "no interchangeable lens" rule.

This all seems like a very roundabout way to say "no cameras of any kind whatsoever". Maybe a cell phone cam?

[dmwierz]

Jeffrey - these rules are frequently confusing and don't make sense technically. I'm convinced they're written by people who either don't know anything about cameras, or more probably by somebody who knows a lot about cameras and doesn't want anyone taking good pictures of their athletes.

In other words, they write them so the people enforcing them (the security folks at the gate) couldn't possibly enforce them properly. So what do people do when they're confused by a rule but tasked with enforcing it? Simple, they err on the side of caution and end up just saying "no".

Oh, and BTW, I doubt anyone would be prohibited from bringing in a P&S to any pro venue. The "no flash" rule is meant to prohibited external, powerful flashes - or possibly a valiant yet totally unenforceable attempt to prohibit the USE of any flash (good luck)

[JeffreyG]

Jeffrey - these rules are frequently confusing and don't make sense technically. I'm convinced they're written by people who either don't know anything about cameras, or more probably by somebody who knows a lot about cameras and doesn't want anyone taking good pictures of their athletes.

In other words, they write them so the people enforcing them (the security folks at the gate) couldn't possibly enforce them properly. So what do people do when they're confused by a rule but tasked with enforcing it? Simple, they err on the side of caution and end up just saying "no".

Honestly these kind of rules were written from ignorance but you can guess what they meant (sort of).

I think the "no interchangeable lens" rule was intended to mean you could not arrive with a <3.5 inch lens on the camera and a 500/4 in your bag.

The "no flash equipment" rule presumably means no separate flash gear....not that you cannot bring your Canon A720IS to the game.

And the "no zoom" rule is the plain old ignorance that zoom = telephoto, not shifting focal length.

I actually would bet that you could easily get a Canon A-series P&S digicam into the arena no sweat despite the fact that it violates the "no flash" and "no zoom" rules.

You could probably even get a Canon S5 in which adds a "no telephoto" violation to the mix.

[mikeb540]

this is about as bogus as it gets, who came up with not allowing folks to have good cameras in the stands?? or is this a rule made by those lucky togs on the sideline access so no average joe with a big lense can steal the money shots.. glad i dont shoot big sports.. id be kicked out of to many places.. just my 2 cents.
mike

[dmwierz]

this is about as bogus as it gets, who came up with not allowing folks to have good cameras in the stands?? or is this a rule made by those lucky togs on the sideline access so no average joe with a big lense can steal the money shots.. glad i dont shoot big sports.. id be kicked out of to many places.. just my 2 cents.
mike

Mike,

You don't want to go there. Trust me. As one of those "lucky" togs who is frequently on the sidelines, we have nothing to do with any of these rules.

Pro and serious College teams are very, very strict about who can and can't take and distribute images of their players, teams and logos. Even bona fide media outlets undergo serious scrutiny when it comes to getting approval to shoot an event like this, and when you are credentialled for a game, what you can and can't do with the images is very tightly regulated and dictated by the team and the league.

This is BIG business, and the NBA is one of the more difficult leagues to get credentials for, and they are probably the most restrictive when it comes to their rules covering image distribution. Getty Images is the big dog in this fight, and everybody else is barking up their tail.

[mikeb540]

thanks for the reply, even tho i dont see my self getting into big team sport photos, ill do anyting for make a buck hehe, all the rules is what keeps me shooting nature .. whos gonna ask a bird for a release... tho i photo my shops bike team from time to time.. we never really discused terms of use..
mike

[vwjoe76]

Just FYI in St. Louis the rules are as follows (If anyone is interested) So it can vary greatly by facility and event in that facility.


Busch Stadium - Cardinals Baseball
Both still and video cameras are allowed in Busch Stadium, as long as they do not obstruct another guest's view. Credentialed professional news crews/cameras are only allowed on the concourses and are not to film any game action unless given permission by the Cardinals.

You can't bring in a 40D and a 70-200, right? I just misunderstood if that's what you meant. I'm going to be in St. Louis this summer so that's why I'm curious. :) --Joe

[Toddgo]

Joe:
The way I understand it is, if no one around you complains then it is fine. I know I've shot with my 70-300 lens and nothing was said at the gate. The part about "Credentialed pro news crews/cameras...." is that if a local TV news crew is filming interviews of fans they can only film in the concourse and not game action unless given persmission. Hope this helps. If you have STL, contact me, I be happy to help ya out.

[Doublea17]

I go to games at the Rose Garden have good seats, 10 rows up under basket(not mine, friends) and take my P&S to take pictures and use flash on and never get hasseld since i goten my 40D haven't been to game yet but want to take it next time. I go to lacrosse games there also and guy next to me has D1s with 70-200f2.8 and they don"t hassel him it is up to the arena/stadium or ushers in that section

[Darsk47]

I go to games at the Rose Garden have good seats, 10 rows up under basket(not mine, friends) and take my P&S to take pictures and use flash on and never get hasseld since i goten my 40D haven't been to game yet but want to take it next time. I go to lacrosse games there also and guy next to me has D1s with 70-200f2.8 and they don"t hassel him it is up to the arena/stadium or ushers in that section


Go back up to post #6 of this thread from Dennis, and read the first quote in the box. It's dead on accurate. I would guess your 'never get hassled' luck will run out one day.

[vwjoe76]

Joe:
The way I understand it is, if no one around you complains then it is fine. I know I've shot with my 70-300 lens and nothing was said at the gate. The part about "Credentialed pro news crews/cameras...." is that if a local TV news crew is filming interviews of fans they can only film in the concourse and not game action unless given persmission. Hope this helps. If you have STL, contact me, I be happy to help ya out.
Thanks a lot for the info. I'm not sure when I'll be out there, but it'll definitely be over the summer. My father just landed a new job out there about a month ago, so I'm waiting till he gets settled in. I've been a Cubs fan all of life, so hopefully we'll be going to a Cubs/Cards match-up. I'll add you to my contacts for sure. Thanks again! --Joe

[PhotoJourno]

I have worked the press pass for a while now, but I often go to events on my own, without flashing the card on purpose (specially when I know it would require their approval rather than my simple introduction) and in most places it is darn near ridiculous the level of zeal with which security meets people with cameras.

General rule is take anything that fits in your pocket or a small bag. A white lense is sure to raise a brow or two, and these U.S. Marshalls of the Stadium will take it upon themselves to make your life miserable, for no real purpose.

I have stopped taking my cameras, if I am not covering the event officially (as much as I hate it). Because it is just a pain in the rear, trying to explain to someone who I can barely understand (I am being politically correct, I am not an easy to understand person), and still getting the arm pointing at the door, or the 'Supervisor' Michael Chiklis double wannabe, lecturing me about stealing photos from a private event.

Best policy? It is not a 100% public place. Find a good line short of the limit, and take your photos. Changing their minds is impossible, as it often is to get a first row or court side spot to sit in. I have heard of someone taking the 70-200 separate from the camera, and assembling during the game. That might work, I have not tried it.

[oaktree]

At my NBA arena, they don't allow "professional" still cameras and any kind of video cameras. My XTi and 135L does not rate as professional, so I have no problems getting in. Except, when a bag inspector is uncertain what the "rule" is. At least she asked another inspector who said "Yes, that's OK".

Since I don't have a white lens, I don't know where the non-professional line ends.

[cosworth]

And the "no zoom" rule is the plain old ignorance that zoom = telephoto, not shifting focal length.


I handed a security guard my camera with the 300 f/4 on it and got him to try and zoom it. I showed him the only roundy bit that did anything was the focus. On the ticket it said no zoom cameras and he admitted my camera didn't zoom. Asked why I would buy such a silly camera. He left me alone after that.

[JeffreyG]

I handed a security guard my camera with the 300 f/4 on it and got him to try and zoom it. I showed him the only roundy bit that did anything was the focus. On the ticket it said no zoom cameras and he admitted my camera didn't zoom. Asked why I would buy such a silly camera. He left me alone after that.

Let's not go to Camelot, it is a silly place.